System for storing and handling material



F. T. MIIEWN SYSTEM FOR STORING AND HANDLING MATERIAL Fi1eQ,Feb.20, 1926 2 Shwta-Sheet l as m Ls N 1;\ ENTOR. final Wim 3 &

ATTORNEY'.

F. T. KERN- SYSTEM FOR STORING AND HANDLING MATERIAL File Feb- 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HAL,

INVENTOR. TFwul-WWP'FL A TTORN E Y6.

l atente Sept. 25,, 1928..

ii ST TE FREE if. KERN, m5 MELWAUKEE, WIEQGONSIN.

Application filed February at, teas. serial No. aaaaa This invention relates toimprovements in systems for storing and handling material such as sand, gravel, coal and the like.

in handling material such as sand, gravel and coal, it has been the practice heretofore to store the material by dumping it from the railroad cars, in which it is transported, along the tracks on either side thereof. T his method of storing the material has been unsatisfactory for the reason that the same is reclaimed with difliculty and at considerable overhead expense. In reclaiming the mate 'rial .from the piles thereof along the right of way, the material is generally picked up by a grab bucket and deposited again in the railroadcars. In some cases the material is Lrecl aimed by hand shoveling, which is a com ,paratively slow and expensive method. In the various methods employed heretofore for reclaiming the material, furthermore, a substantial percentage of the same goes to waste for the reason that a certain part of the material is deposited in inaccessible places and cannot be reclaimed. These systems, further- :more, require the services of a number of operators, which increases the cost of ihan (lling the mz-iterial.

In grading and storing material such as sand and gravel, it has been-the practice heretofore to operate the grading or sifting mechanism until any one of the various storage bins supplied thereby is filled to capacity, at which time-the plant hasbeen shut down until snflicienit call has been had for the grade of n'iateria'l stored :in this particular bin to empty the latter, at which timethe plant is again operated until any one of the bins is "full. Producers in sand and gravel have thus beeuconfronted with this problem of storing "and disposingof the various grades of sand and gravel for the reason that it seldom occu rswthat there will always be the Sttll'lOCfill for each grade so that the :bins for holding the various grades of material will be emptied together. For instance, there may :bera largewcall for sand but very littlecall for gravel of ithe'different grades, so that the "bin for storing the sand is soon emptied, leaving the other bins containing-the differflt,ll'tClS of gravel comparatively full. T his condition has necessitated shutting down of the separating or sifting mechanism for separating theinaterial into its various grades and supplyingthe bins therewith until the bins containing the various grades of gravel "he ve a lso been emptied a sirliicient amount to justify further operation of this machinery or mechanism to refill the sand bin, These storage bins are generally erected over or adacent to a spur track and provided with discharge spouts below which rolling stock is placed to receivethe material- Due to this proximity of the railroad tracks, therfore, it has been prohibitive to maintain the contents of-the various bins substantially equal at all timesby emptying the bins which might contain grades of material for which there is very littiecall, since the discharged contents of these bins would interfere with the right of way and pile up in a Way which would interfere with the operation of the plant.

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved system for storing and handling graded material whereby the mechanism or machine for supplying the bins with the various grades of material may be operated continuously regardless of the call for any particular grade of material, and wherein material from any one of the bins may be discharged therefrom and conveyed to and deposited in a storage yard therefor and readily reclaimed or re.- moved from the storage yard.

Another object is to provide an improved system of the character referred to wherein material stored in a plurality of yards may be reclaimed therefrom and moved to a com- .mon point, from which it may be readily transferred into a railroad car or othersuitable vehicle, the various control units for the mechanism comprising the system being placed at a common point whereby the entire system may be eiiiciently controlled by a single operator.

Anotherobject is to provide animproved system of the character referred to which has advantages over those constructed heretofore as regards chiciency and flexibility and ease of operation.

Other objects and advantages Will hereinafter appear. 7

For the purpose of illustrating the invention an embodiment thereof is showninthe drawings, in which Figure 1 is adiagrammatic, plan View of the entire system;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1"; Fig. 3 isan end elevation, looking toward the left in 2.,

Fig. l is a section on line ll of Fig. I; Fig. .5 1s a view srmllartolirgl, showing a modified form i F ig..6'is anjelevational view,looking toward the left'inFig. and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view, looking toward the right in Fig. 6. I

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the bins 1, 2, 3 and 4; are constructed and supported over the spur track 5 and provided with discharge spouts 6 whereby the rolling stock 7 may be filled with material from any oneof these -bins,suitable mechanism such as the rotary cylindrical sitter 8 of well-known construction being supported above the bins and adapted and arranged to segregate or separate the material into its various grades and to dischar e the various rades of material into the respective bins therefor. The

, able motor bins are further provided with spouts 9, 10, 11 and 12 extending outwardly therefrom and arranged to discharge the material upon an endless belt conveyor 13 operated by a suit- 14 which may be geared directly to the head pulley 15 of this conveyor. Walls 16 are erected in proximity to the bins and arrangedas shown to provide'storage yards 17, 18,19 and 20. Q I

A second endless belt conveyor ported by suitable trestle work 23 at an angle to the horizontal with its lower end 24 arranged adjacent to and below end 25 of conveyor 13 to receive material discharged there from, conveyor 22 being operated in the direction of thearrow shown in Fig. 3 by means of 22 is supsuitable motor 26' which may begeared directdevice, designated meral 31, whereby material deposited upon 1y to the head pulley27. A third endless belt conveyor 28 is supported by suitable trestle work 29, and has one of its ends'arranged to receive material discharged from. the upper endof conveyor 22, conveyor, 28 being operable in'the direction of the arrow by means of a suit-able motor 29 which may also be geared directly -to pulley 30 of this conveyor. Conveyor- 28 is provided with a suitable, tripping generally by reference nuthis conveyor from conveyor 22 may be discharged theretrom'and deposited in any one of the storage yards 17 to 20. Hoisting mechanism 32 of any suitable construct-ion, such as shown in my copending application Serial No. 78,730 filed January 2, 1926, is'set up in any convenient position, on a suitable turntable as shown in Fig. 1, to operate a drag line bucket 33 attached to a cable 34 trained about sheaves 35 and 36 secured in any suitable manner at the points shown, the arrangement being such that upon operation of the bucket material of the particular grade stored in yard 18, for example, is reclaimed therefrom and scraped into a snot-able hopper 37 from which it is elevated by means of another endless belt conveyor 38 toanother hopper orbin 39 supv ported at a height relatively greater than the height of hopper 37 and provided with a spout 40 extending over track. 5 for the purpose of discharging the material into rolling stock 41.

hooked up as indicated in dotted lines to reclaim the material'and scrape the same into hopper 37, mechanism 32 being rotated by turntable 32 to properly position the hoisting drums with respect to the cable.

For the purpose of reclaiming the material from yards 19 and 20, the drag scraper mechanism may be hooked up as indicated in dotted lines to scrape the material into a hopper 44 similar to hopper 37, a conveyor 45 similar to conveyor 38 and operated by a suitable motor 46 acting to elevate the material from hopper 44 and to discharge the same into the hopper or bin 39, turntable 32 again being adjusted to properly position the hoisting drums with respect to the cable.

In the operation of the system, the separating or sitting mechanism 8 is operated in the usual manner to grade the material and deposit the various grades into their respective bins 1, 2, 3 and 4, material of any one grade being taken from the bins through spouts (i and discharged into the cars 7. 1n the event that'any one of the bins, such as 4, 'for example, becomes filled to capacity for the reason that it has been supplied with its particular grade of material at a greater rate than this grade isremoved through spout 6, the material is discharged from this bin through spout 12 and deposited on conveyor 13 which carries it over to and deposits the same upon the lower end 24 of conveyor 22 by which it is elevated to and deposited upon conveyor 28. Assuming that yard 18 is used to store the grade of material which is stored in bin 4, the tripping device 31 is positioned over this yard, as shown in Fig. 2, and motor 29 operated to move conveyor 28 in the direction of the arrow whereby the material of this particular grade is deposited into yard 18. If the call for thisparticular grade of material, however, should be in excess of the capacity of bin 4, the drag scraper mechanism may be hooked up as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and operated to reclaim the material from yard 18 and scrape the same into hopper 37 from which it is elevated and conveyed to ho )per or bin 39 by means of conveyor 38 and discharged into one of the waiting cars 41 through the spout 40.

Bins 1, 2, 3 and 4 may also be provided with spouts 9, 10, 11 and 12' extending outwardly over a side track 5 whereby two cars, one on each of the tracks 5 and 5, may be loaded from any one of the bins at the same time.

The wiring or connections 14. 26, 29, 42 and 46 for controlling motors 14, 26, 29. 42 and 46, respectively, lead to suitable switches (not shown) located at a single point. as indicated in Fig. 1, adjacent to the control levers 32 for actuating the hoisting mechanism 32.

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lfltl Laaaeva The meansfor controlling each of the parts comprising the system are thereby located at a common point in convenient reachwhereby the entire system may be eiiiciently controlled by asingle operator. i

From the foregoing it will be seen that an improved system has been provided wherein yards are provided for storing the various grades of material and wherein means have been provided for removing the material from any one of the bins 1,2,3 and and depositing thesame in one of the storage yards whereby it is possible to operate the separating or sitting mechanism 8 continuously regardless of anydijtlerence intho rate at which the ma-- tcrial is discharged from the bins, and that the variousgrades of material stored in yards 17 to 20 areaccessible for use at any time, suitable mechanism being provided for reclain'iing the material from the yards and removing it to a point convenient for the fur ther disposition thereof.

i The modified system shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 'i is used by jobbers Who receive the graded material in carload lots and dispose of the smile in relatively small. quantities, the system permitting the jobber to stock up in any one grade of material at a time most advantageous to him and to dispose or the material at his convenience in relatively small quantities.

The material of any particular grade is broughtin in cars 47 and dumped into a suitable hopper 48 having a bottom 49 which is reciprocated in any suitable manner such as by an eccentric 5O driven by a chain 51 connected to t-hepulley 52 of an endlessrbelt conveyor 53, the arrangement being such thatthe material is discharged fromhopperaii ata uniform rate and caused to slide down a skirt 54' upon the lower end of conveyor 53 by which it is elevated and discharged upon a second endless belt or shuttle conveyor The conveyor 53 is operated by means of a suitablemotor 56 which may be geared :directly to the head pulley, While the shuttle conveyor is operated in either direction by means of a suitable reversible motor 57.

Walls 58 are erected to provide storage yards 59, G0. 61 and 62, and the drag scraper bucket (33 hooked up in any desired manner, as indicated, and operated by suitable h0isting mechanism (i i to reclaim the material from any one of the storage yards and scrape the same into one ofthehoppers 65 and 66, endless belt conveyorsfi'? and68 being erected, as shown, and. operated in the -direetion or the arrows bytheir respective motors 69 and 70 connected totheir respective head pulleys 71 and 72 to elevate the material and convey the latter to and deposit the same upon the lower end of conveyor'53.

Tn-the operation of this system, the bins 73 are filled to capacity by movingthe shuttle conveyor 55 to the position thereof shown in Fig. 5 and operating this conveyor in the direction of the arroivwhereby material discharged from the upper end of conveyor .53 and deposited upon the adjacent end of the shutt e conveyor 55 is deposited into hopper 'Y l-trom Whence it is discharged into any one of the bins 73 by )vay of the various spouts 75 which may be of any suitable constructi on and arrangement.

When any one of the storage bins 73 is filled to. ca} acity with its particular grade of material, the shuttle conveyor 55is shifted to bring one of itsends over the yard for storing this grade and the conveyor operated in the proper direction to discharge the ma terial into this yard.

Tn disposing of the graded material, trucks are run under the bins and the material discharged into the same by Way oi the spouts 7G with which the bins are provided. When one otthe bins is emptied, material may be reclaimed from the storage yard holding the particular grade for this bin and transferred to the latter in the manner explained above by Way of either one of the hoppers 65 and G6, conveyors 67 and 68, conveyor 53, shuttle conveyor 55, hopper 7d, and one of the spouts 7 5.

The Wiring or connections 56, 57', 69 and 70 for the motors 56, 57, 69 and 70, respectively, lead to suitable switches (not shown) located at a single point adjacent to the con trol levers 64 for the hoisting mechanism (34,

the arrangement being similar to that shown 1n: Fig.1 and described above whereby the entire system or plant may be etliciently con trolled by a single operator. The hoisting mechanism 64: is mounted on a suitable turntablefiei" tor the same purpose explained above in connection With mechanism 32in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an improved system has been provided wherein binsare provided for storing graded material an comparatively small quantities and storage yards provided for storing the graded material in comparatively large quantities, suitable mechanism being provided for re claiming the material from any one-o1": the storage yards and transferring the particular grade of material to the corresponding bin therefor. I

The several. embodiments of the invention shown and described above are particularly adapted for use in the handling and storing of sand and gravel, but of course the system maybe used to advantage in the storing of ther material, such as ore, coal and the like. The various parts comprisingthe improved system are, furthermore, susceptible to vari- (z-us changes in their SIZQ, shape and arrangement ithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scobcof the claims.

bins. storage yards, conveying means associated with said bins and yards, each of said bins being provided with means for discharging material upon said conveying means, means for operating said conveying means 'whereby material discharged from any one ofsaid bins may be deposited in any one of said yards, and means having a range of operation substantially equal to the area of said yards and adapted to move the material from said yards to a. common point convenient for the further disposition ofsaid material.

'2. A system of the character described comprising a plurality of bins for storing graded material, means for supplying said bins with said material, storage yards, means for transferring said material from said bins to said yards, and means having a range of operation substantiallyequal to the combined areas of said yards and adapted to shift the mate rial therein to a common point for the further disposition thereof. 7 p

3. In a system of the character described, the combination with a plurality of bins provided with discharge spouts, and storage yards, of conveying means of the endlessbelt type arranged to receive material discharged from any one of said spouts and to deposit said material selectively at given points in saidya'rds, and reclaiming means having arange of operation coextensive with said yards and bein adapted to distribute the material from said points to various other ,parts'of said yards and to move said material to a common point for the further disposition thereof.

4. In a system of the character described, a plurality of bins for storing graded material and provided with discharge spouts, storage yards, means for receiving material discharged from any one of said spouts and into said second hopper, and means for discharging the'material from said second hopper. 5. In a material storage and reclaiming systeni,'inea1is for dividing a given area into a plurality of yards, means for depositing material in any one of said yards, a plurality of hoppers each common to a plurality of said yards, means common to each of said hoppers for conveying thereto material from either or both of the associated yards, and means for conveying said material from said hoppers i to a common point for further disposition.

6. In a system of the character described, a plurality of storage yards, means for conveying material from a point removed from said yardsand depositing said material into any one of said yards, a hopper common to said yards, means having a range of operation embracing said yards and adapted to remove material therefrom and to deposit said material in said hopper, and means for removing the material from said hopper.

7. In a system of the character described, storage yards, conveying means supported above said yards and extending transversely thereof and being adapted to discharge material into any one of said yards, means for conveying material from a point removed from said yards and depositing said material upon said conveying means, a hopper common to said yards, reclaiming means having a range of operation embracing said yards and adapted to remove material therefrom and to deposit said material in said hopper, other conveying means arranged to receive material discharged from said hopper and to elevate the same to a point convenient for the further disposition thereof, mechanism for operating said reclaiming means, and controlling means for each of said conveying means, said operating mechanism and controlling means being arrangcd at a common point for actuation by a single operator.

8. In a system of the character described, storage yards, means for conveying material from a point removed from said yards and adapted to deposit said material into any one of said yards, reclaiming means having a range of operation en'ibracing said yards and adapted to move material therefrom to a second point removed from the same, actuating mechanism for said reclaiming means, controlling means for said conveying means, and other controlling means for said actuating mechanism, said first and secondmentioned controlling means being located at a common point for actuation by a single operator.

9. A system of the character described comprising a plurality of bins, yards, a first conveyor for elevating material from a point removed from said yards to a point above said bins, a second conveyor arranged to receive material discharged from the upper end of said first conveyor and adapted and arranged to discharge said material into said bins or into any one of said yards, means for operating said second conveyor in either direction, reclaiming means having a range of operation embracing said yards and adapted to move material from the latter to a second point removed from the same, and means Ilu remain for transferring said material 'hOlll said second point to and depositing thesame upon said first conveyor.

10. in a system of the character described, a bin, a yard, a conveyor for elevating material from a point removed from said yard to a point above said bin, means for receiving I material discharged from the upper end oi said conveyor and adapted to permit said material to be discharged into said bin or to discharge said material into said yard, reclaiming ineansi'or moving said material from said yard to a second point removed therefrom, and means for removing said ma terial from said second point and depositing said material upon said conveyor, said bin being provided With means for dischar ing the material therefrom.

11. A system of the character described comprising a number of stationary bins for storing graded material, a number of storage yards also adapted for the storage of graded material, means for delivering graded material to the storage bins and to the storage yards, and reclaiming means for transferring graded material from any one of the storage yards to a point of deposit.

12. A system of the character described comprising a plurality of stationary bins for storing graded material, means whereby the material may be discharged from the bins into a vehicle, storage yards also adapted to receive the graded material, means operable independently of the bins for delivering graded material to the storage yards, and means for transferring material from the storage yards to a point of deposit.

In witness whereof 1 hereto ailix my signature.

FRED T. KERN. 

